Tag: types of driveway

Concrete and asphalt are among the most common materials that are used to make driveways. It is essential to examine their advantages and disadvantages before making use of any of the materials to create a driveway. Asphalt contains tar which gives it its adhesive property. On the other hand, cement accounts for the adhesive property of concrete. The two substrates give these materials their own characteristics which also affects the maintenance process required, durability and cost.

The Pros and Cons of Concrete Driveways

Concrete is typically used in warmer climate areas that don’t have severe winters, for the reason that the concrete may be negatively affected by deicing salts. Whenever sodium chlorate is utilized to melt ice and snow, it enters the concrete’s pores and can cause damage because the material expands and contracts in the course of temperature changes. But, there are other kinds of deicers that will not harm the concrete (and tend to be better for your lawn), so utilizing concrete in colder regions just isn’t out of the question. Then certainly in the summer concrete does its job well by retaining its natural rigidity in the heat along with deflecting sunlight because of its lighter color. It does not need as much repair work as asphalt. Although cracking naturally occurs with concrete, if the driveway is laid properly with either rebar or wire mesh, cracks will be minor.

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However, it is pricey in comparison with asphalt. If it stains, you will find it extremely hard to remove the stains. Although you can easily remove the snow from a concrete driveway, it’s still much better to use asphalt in places where the winter is long. Concrete has a tendency to crack when there is extreme winter.

The Pros and Cons of Asphalt Driveways

First of all, it’s less expensive to have when compared to concrete. But in the long run, you may have to spend more money on the maintenance. It requires proper care so it won’t become damaged or broken. You might need to seal it in every 3 to 5 years. In case you are living in an area where there is extreme winter and snow, asphalt is the best choice. If it is damaged, it is possible to repair.

Nevertheless, asphalt should be re-sealed once a year. You can either have to pay someone or you need to do it yourself; either way, this is actually the worst portion of owning an asphalt driveway. Should you skip sealing your driveway, it’s going to degrade a lot more quickly and cost you even more. It wears out faster. No matter if you seal it or not, asphalt just crumbles, cracks, and sinks with vehicle weight.